Flu vaccine supplies meet demand in Monroe Health-care providers report enough for seniors, despite delays

Flu vaccine supplies
meet demand in Monroe
Health-care providers report enough for
seniors, despite delays


MARIE ORTIZ  Luba Lucyk, R.N., of the Visiting Nurse Association, gives Denise Gagliardi of Monroe a flu shot at the Monroe Park Pharmacy on Dec. 16. MARIE ORTIZ Luba Lucyk, R.N., of the Visiting Nurse Association, gives Denise Gagliardi of Monroe a flu shot at the Monroe Park Pharmacy on Dec. 16.

MONROE — Despite a delay in the production of the flu vaccine, those most susceptible to the illness, senior citizens, are receiving doses.

Michael Smalldone, nursing director at the Monroe Park retirement community health center said, "The flu can be very dangerous, if not fatal, to patients with compromised immune systems."

He added that his health center received the vaccine in November and has administered it to all the Monroe Park residents who requested it.

According to Smalldone, there has been no noticeable increase in incidents of the flu among his residents.

Health care for Greenbriar-Wittingham, Clearbrook, Concordia and Rossmoor senior residences is provided by the nurses of St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick.

Maryanne Geraci, R.N., reported that approximately 5,000 flu vaccines had been distributed throughout the four communities.

"Initially residents were upset (about the lack of the vaccine), but we have successfully vaccinated our communities," said Geraci.

She added that none of the four communities have suffered a rise in incidents of the flue because of the delay.

The Middlesex County Board of Health also successfully distributed the vaccine.

According to Ilona Pearson, assistant to the nursing director, the Middlesex County Board of Health distributed approximately 11,000 shots in 16 clinics, which is the largest number ever administered through that board of health.

"We had more people this year because private doctors did not have the vaccine," Pearson said.

Pearson said the vaccine that the Middlesex County Board of Health distributes is manufactured by the Aventis-Pasteur pharmaceutical company.

The vaccine contains three strains of the flu. Two of the strains do not change, while the third varies from one year to the next.

This year’s variable strain was particularly difficult to grow and was the reason that the vaccine was late.

Registered nurse Jackie McKelvie of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) said the association will continue to provide clinics until the end of the year. McKelvie estimated that the VNA administered 100 vaccinations at a clinic at the Monroe Park Pharmacy on Friday.

The association says that 70 percent of all those who receive a flu vaccination are completely protected. The remaining 30 percent have partial protection and will experience lessened symptoms if they do contract influenza.

The location and dates of future VNA clinics can be obtained by calling 1-(800)-VNA-3330.

— Brian Piech